webracer

I got my new Samurai 150, right on schedule. I got 11 jumps on it last weekend in Chicago. I am very happy with this canopy, and have now ordered a Samurai 136 for my other rig. I am getting a bit of off-heading opening, but the canopy is brand new and very slippery to pack. Flight characteristics are fantastic. I demo'd Vengeance, Crossfire, and Stiletto. The Samurai is the best. I am loading the 150 about 1.4:1

I am interested in what most will do in the following scenario: A fellow jumper loses conciousness during a jump, and you try to chase to deploy them. You get there with plenty of altitude (hopefully), and deploy which parachute? I am assuming you attempt to stabilize them (more difficult than it sounds), and return to normal belly speeds. My answer is deploy the reserve. My reason is: with today's hp (& small) canopies, you may deploy the person, but he/she dies anyway (if they don't regain consciousness). Under an eliptical, an unconcious person would likely sag in the harness in such a way to cause a spin or other mal. Unless I knew the person was using a square, I would deploy the reserve, which hopefully (especially if properly sized) would keep them alive even if they didn't regain consciousness Post your opinions and supporting reasons.

After 9 jumps on the Vengeance 150 demo I have from PD, here are my comments: I am a first-year skydiver, with 200 jumps so far this year. I have had intermediate canopy training from some skilled HP canopy pilots I have been jumping a Sabre 170 with excellent landings & control My exit weight is 225. The flight of the vengeance is superb to the sabre, in both turbulent and smooth skies. Landing the vengeance required very little adjustment from my sabre technique. Mostly I realize more lift at slower speeds (farther into the surf), and that the last few inches of toggle input do much more than on the sabre. Turns are much faster, and diving is quite a bit steeper. Less g-force in saddle on toggle spirals than sabre. I have not tried any high performance landings with the canopy yet, but have landed it in conditions from 0-15mph wind. Openings are the biggest change. I am learning to fly the opening, which is slow enough to watch and react to. Three openings resulted in corkscrew dives, the first was corrected with brake release, the second two were corrected by steering with my body in the harness prior to releasing brakes. It appears to me that this opening behavior will be completely controllable with more time in the saddle. I have not had end cell closures as of yet I would guess the canopy I have has 250-400 jumps (based upon fabric condition) and new lines. I am waiting also for a Samurai 150, and will review that after I get some jumps on it. I plan to put another 10-15 on the vengeance next weekend prior to sending it back. Troy C webracer@theads.net

Sabre is a great canopy for all-around use. It swoops well but does not have the glide of many higher performance canopies. I propack and roll the nose to the nametape, leave the center cell even with the rolled nose, cup the slider (std. slider, no oversize or pockets), and lightly wrap the tail. Make sure (hear me now, MAKE SURE)you keep the slider all the way to the top. I am currently loaded at 1.3, and I feel this is ideal for the Sabre. I think at lower wingloadings it is more difficult to land and at higher wingloadings it does not have the glide to make it back from even a so-so spot (like an early-out). I open quickly but comfortably in 500-600 feet. I have a full slider open in 200-250 feet from pitch. This has been proven consistent with my packing. My .02

Buy new! Screw those used canopies unless you know who owned them. After three attempts this year to buy a used canopy, I am now only buying new. Everyone lies! either 100 or 400 jumps. 100 really means 400, 400 really means 1000. Save yourself the headache, deal with the problem of packing a new ZP, and buy new.

I didn't know so many people had views on god, I thought it was just something Kid Rock made up.

I am pretty new to the sport (this is my second season), and don't know many well knowns (other than what I read), but still really feel a part of the family. Let me tell you that I really feel it in my gut when we have any fatality in the sport. I sure wish it would never happen. I wish Jan's family and personal friends my best. I am sure Jan now has no freefall time limit.

I really don't understand why some ruin the classifieds by pushing their gear in the wrong categories. How many times to do you see someone pushing a main in the reserve category, or vice versa. Case in point is a Raven II which just posted in both. Especially on this site, the categories are clearly defined and obvious. Do these people think pushing their wares in the wrong category stimulates a sale? It only disgusts me. Be responsible, we're supposed to be a family (nevermind, that might explain the behavior). I really would like to feel we have a special group, even though many of us will never meet. Utopic for sure, but in this world we all need hope. STOP F'N POSTING IN THE WRONG CATEGORY!!!

I feel if you're 170 w/o gear, you're nearer to 200 out the door. A container weighs 7-10 lbs, say 6 lbs each (or more for over 170) canopy, and a couple more for AAD. Add your jumpsuit, helmet, altimeter, etc.. and you can likely add a total of 35 pounds to your nekid weight. My opinion. I would try to jump a D-M 181 or PD 176 if I were you. I, like an earlier post, am worried not about coming down uninjured, but if you are injured it may mean further damage to your body.

Thank you Craddock, obvious to me, but not to all. I have had two reserve rides due to freefall injuries (couldn't pull main), and that meant coming down with one arm (other dislocated). While my medical problems ($30K later) are supposed to be resolved now, I still want as much fabric over my head incase I am back to one arm again.

Pretty new to the sport and in need of opinions (anyone got one?). I bought a new Wings container (this was a container someone put a deposit on and then backed out of), and was informed it was designed for a 150 reserve, but would fit (tight)a PD176R and Spectre 170. I called Tim @ wings, and was told a PD160R would be more like it, and even that would be snug. He stated pack volumes for the container I bought (W-11) were 330 reserve and 385 main. I called Ed Cummings, and he said that a Dash-M 181 will pack roughly the same as a PD160R (My goal is to get the most reserve canopy over my head). My rigger says he'll be able to get it in if that is true. Tim at Wings says the 181-M won't fit. The published pack volumes are 364 for the PD160R and 370 for the 181-M. I weigh 175-180, so my exit weight will be about 205. I am also putting in a cypres. My biggest concern is the purchase of a canopy that won't fit (noone contests the main fitting). I think a 160 is too small for me. I am putting a new canopy in the reserve container, so if I buy a 176 or 181 and it doesn't fit, I'll have to sell it at a loss (unused). Maybe I can make a deal with the dealer to take it back if it doesn't fit? I am soliciting any and all informed opinions on this issue, especially Dash-M pack volume vs. PDR pack volume. Raven does claim a much smaller pack volume per sq'. If you can help, please do. BTW: I realize starting with the container was a mistake, but that's the situation I am in at the moment. Next time around I will have my own container made for the canopies I want to fly Thanks Troy webracer@theads.net